To tame the utter uncertainty of our times, Mathieu Bélisle traces the history of humanity in search of what our relationship with hope has been and what it should still be. Indeed, while hope is as vital as the air we breathe, by hoping too much, we risk falling into despair, or worse, apathy.

Spanning from the discovery of fire to the advent of Trump, via ancient Greece, monotheistic religions, and revolutionary movements, A Brief History of Hope offers a striking overview of the literary and philosophical reflections that have marked the human adventure. In these troubled times, this accessible yet erudite text reminds us that the worst is not inevitable, and that our task is to imagine what comes next rather than fear the end.